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As a man born into the world of music, it comes as no surprise that this virtuoso electric bass player is one of the best. Three times, Bass Player Magazine has awarded Bass Player of the Year to Victor Lemonte Wooten. Victor also won two Grammys in association with his amazing quartet, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. At the early age of two, Victor Lemonte began learning the bass; at age six he was playing in “The Wooten Brothers Band”, who consistently opened up shows for Curtis Mayfield and War. Victor has released collectanea of music through individual efforts, through the Flecktones and a collection of other amazing musicians. Without a doubt, this brief introduction to such a talented musician from the mothership only brushes the surface of his musical finesse.
Last night, 2.11.02, Vic joined Bela Fleck in the Twin Cities, but on separate stages. As entertaining as Bela is, this reporter knew the better show was at First Avenue. The possibility was open that Bela would join Victor’s show, as the Bela Fleck show had an earlier start time. Only time (and this review) will tell. Describing First Avenue would be to mention nothing overtly special other than the musical acts adorning white stars, anointing the black brick walls outside. The visual layout of First Avenue is dark, yet clean; sinister with friendly appeal. A perfect venue for its intentions: diverse music. Last night would be no exception. My personal experiences at First Ave have all been positive, even receiving a free ticket for this show by attending a show a few weekends ago.
My expectations were high for this show, proclaiming it would be the best Minneapolis Music event in February. Will it serve us so? When I wrote this I wasn’t sure as the show did not start for another four hours. Nonetheless, I have prepared my research and myself, obtaining Victor’s most recent release, Live in America. Diverse, positive and captivating are only a few complimentary descriptions for this double-disc adventure. Scripted within the CD booklet reads:
“We are a very lucky group of people. We know this and we try not to take it for granted. Traveling around the world playing music is a wonderful thing and it produces many wonderful moments.”
Soon the anxious Minneapolis crowd will know exactly what this statement means. After hearing Vic again, once with the Flecktones (see my review), I know how blessed he be. In reflection, music opens my mind, feeds my soul and leaves me thirsty for more. You will now see why it has this overwhelming effect on me.
My best friend backs out on the concert for a soccer game. I press on. A beautiful woman backs out on me for homework. I press on. My car explodes on the way and turns into a fiery pile of metal carnage. I press on. I step out of the car and begin walking. The night is windy and unusually warm for February in Minneapolis, but it’s been an especially warm winter anyway. As I begin my walk towards First Avenue, the aura is in the air. You know the feeling, blessed to witness non-verbal communication like no other, music. Letting my inhibitions and pre-conceived notions fall by the wayside, a mystical journey encases my environment and chills pass from my head to my toes. I see strangers that know; I see strangers that don’t. Either way, I have compassion for them, as this is how life should be. No matter how convincing I try to be, only the music and the listener can participate in this communication. It’s the old philosophical plague, the problem with other peoples’ minds. You’ll never know them. I have the feeling the band will remind the crowd of these simple truths, to be compassionate as unique individuals. The best I can do is give my one, simple recollection of this musical escapade. And here we go... [Warning: this may get poetic, incoherent, adventurous to read, as within me has been planted the music-minded seed.]
It’s around 9:50 pm on Monday, February 11th in Minneapolis. Bela Fleck is in St. Paul, while the video screen ascends. Prior to this, the crowd was pleasant, quiet and hesitant, but very excited. Briefly, I exchanged info with the sole taper so that this magical moment will return to me. My thoughts for the evening are of manifesting peace, being conscious that we need compassion to survive. As the curtain ascends, out walks a gem, a gorgeous and talented female MC and bassist, known to you and I as D-I-V-I-N-I-T-Y. MC Divinity. With smooth bass lines and swift lyrics, Divinity caressed our desirous ears. JD Blair, the Groove Regulator, laid down drumbeats, Reggie Wooten, the oldest Wooten and “The Teacher”, controlled the guitar and Joseph Wooten fingered the keys. After three excellent original songs, the savior, the man, the myth, the legend, Victor Lemonte Wooten took the stage. Actually over the speakers played the introductory song from the new CD. The song was written for this disc as a gift from Bootsy Collins.
The band opened with "Good People" and roused the crowd into a choired frenzy. Following into one of my favorites, "Hormones in the Headphones," the show was in full steam, or so I thought. Little did I know, the music powers that be, had so, so much more in store for this enraptured crowd. Continuing on through recognizable songs from the newly released Live in America, I was pleased to be able to sing along, especially to, “Nobody Knows My Name.” The bass controller, Anthony “Flex” Wellington joined the chorus for this song and once, when the words, “nobody knows my name” came around, he flashed his backstage pass and laughed. Flex was also responsible for some serious bass bombs during this production. After a handful or so of songs, the music faded to a lull as Victor began performing jaw-dropping magic tricks. Just kidding, we know they were illusions Vic, or were they? Knowing where this guy comes from and his musical powers, I would not doubt that he was doing real magic. I digress.
After the fantastic illusion show, the music progressed again, with an uplifting rendition of “Yinnin and Yangin” with prime lyrics by both MC Divinity and Victor. A little further in, Victor gives a sincere explanation into "The Teacher”, his oldest brother Reggie on the guitar. When Reggie was 10, he was teaching Vic, at age two, how to play the bass. He also was teaching Joseph Wooten how to play keys. With this introduction, we are given a guitar solo with only Reggie gracing the stage. What can I say more than, SICKEST GUITAR SOLO EVER. Reggie bounced fingers from both hands up and down the fret board. At first it was obscure and slow building, but progressed into a frenzied display of hand-eye-guitar coordination. Never have I seen someone play the guitar so furiously and with such accuracy. It certainly proves the Wooten family are not of this earth, although they claim residency in Nashville. Seriously, at the time of this solo, I did not think anything more amazing would happen. There were, “oh my gods!” “holy shits!” “I cannot believes!” but more will come. The band rushes to the stage and begins playing James Brown’s, “Get on up” and this is where it gets interesting, so instead of describing exactly what transpired, I will post a portion of the setlist in a familiar format:
Reggie guitar solo > J.B’s “Get on Up” > Sly and the Family Stone’s “Dance to the Music” > “Get on Up” > “Star Spangled Banner” Solo by Reggie Wooten (mocking Jimi Hendrix Woodstock version) > “Purple Haze” > Black Sabbath’s “Ironman” > A Reggie Jam > Ironman.
Are you kidding me? (I bet that is what you just said, because it is what I have been saying since it happened.) I cannot even fathom what all of that meant, but it certainly seemed as though the band was channeling from past musicians. The concentration of their faces made me know they were communicating way beyond normal standards. Basically, Jimi Hendrix was at this show in the form of Reggie Wooten. To have those kinds of channeling powers makes this night beyond awe-inspiring. It opened another world to me, as music always does. You’d think the rest of the night would be blurry from shock, even though I was sober. However more exciting moments were amidst.
Joseph Wooten followed the crazy portion of the show listed above with a smooth, patient song about peace and love. About finding new ways to cure societal ails and to manifest optimism for the close of a crucial point of life on earth. The song was “I Dream in Color” and the words peace and love were emphasized throughout. After compelling bass solos by Victor, an uproar rose from the crowd. Not only was it in appreciation for the best bass player in the world, but also on to the stage walks the best banjo player in the world. Bela Fleck, ladies and gentleman, has arrived to play out the rest of the evening at First Avenue. Can you believe this? These are the kinds of musical occurrences that happen in California and New York, but lo and behold, Minneapolis, to me, is the luckiest city in the musical galaxy.
Victor, Bela, Reggie, JD, Anthony, MC Divinity, Joseph and even a saxophone player named Jason Peterson, surrounded the stage in a musical cornucopia of sounds as eight musicians gracefully serenaded the overjoyed crowd. Bela remained as part of the show for at least thirty minutes, through the end of the set and joining again for the encore. Many people left the main dance floor after the set ended, expecting no encore. Little did they know, the entire crew would join in one last sample, albeit an amazing sample of the musical prowess that burns through this entire crew and family.
Unfortunately, these are all the details I came through with, anymore and I would have to play the instruments. In fact, the only way to truly appreciate this, is to hear it for yourself. That is why the slogan of our site is “Go See Live Music”. You never know what you’ll find.
Oh by the way, at the end of the initial set, I ran to the front of the stage, leaning as far forward as I could and yelled, “Victor!” He approached and grabbed from my hand, my last JamBase sticker and on the back was a sticky note that said: “Come read our review of the show. We down for peace and love.”
Yinnin’ and Yangin’
Michael Shearer
JamBase Minneapolis Correspondent
Go See Live Music!
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